Juanita was born on the banks of the San Saba River in San Saba, TX on January 8, 1926 to William D. Kelley and Bessie (Turner) Kelley. She was the third child of five children. At the young age of 17, she left San Saba and headed to Dallas Tx to work for Neiman Marcus then to Houston TX. She later ventured to Flatonia where she opened her own cafe and met the love of her life, Max Nikel, Sr. Max and Juanita were married on March 23, 1946 in Moulton, TX. Juanita sold her cafe to buy their first truck to start their own trucking business. Soon after, they started a family of three children, Carolyn Nikel, Max Nikel Jr., and Belinda (Nikel) Richter.
Juanita spent most of her time as the “rock” of the family, taking care of children, grandchildren, and other family members. Some of her favorite pastime activities were numerous trips to Vegas with friends, working in the yard, and most of all, bingo every night. During any given Christmas, it was typical to find Santa Claus waving to all the little girls and boys outside her living room window. In her later years, she enjoyed watching the Houston Astros and San Antonio Spurs.
Surviving her are her children, Carolyn Nikel of Flatonia, Max Nikel Jr. (Anita) of Shiner, and Belinda (Nikel) Richter of Flatonia, Juanita’s sister, Linda (Kelley) Huser of Schulenburg and sister-in-law Maxine Vyvjala of Schulenburg. Her grandchildren include Brenda (Merecka) Rodriguez and husband Fred of Cypress, Rhonda (Merecka) Williams and husband Rodney of Cibolo, Kevin Nikel of Weimar, Mandy (Nikel) Adams and husband Bill of Fulshear, April (Richter) Shelnutt and husband Jason of Seguin, Misty Nikel of Katy, Ashley (Richter) Lamon and husband Joey of Castroville. Great-grandchildren include Victoria and Brent Wright of Cypress, Logan Doneske of Katy, Keely, Kaden, and Kamryn Williams of Cibolo, Alison and Jemma Shelnutt of Seguin, Victoria, Katelynn, Rebecca, and Patrick Lamon of Castroville, and Noah Adams of Fulshear.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Max Nikel Sr., brothers Doyle and Leeman Kelley, sister Billie Kelley, daughter-in-law Liz Mendel, son-in-law Edward Richter, and grandson Brent Merecka.
Pallbearers are Fred Rodriguez, Brent Wright, Rodney Williams, Kaden Williams, Jason Shelnutt, Joey Lamon, Darrell Vyvjala, Kevin Nikel
Honorary Pallbearers: Billy Don Kelley, Larry Kelley, Logan Doneske
Visitation will begin at 11:00 am on Tuesday, December 3, 2019. Rosary will be held Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at 10:30 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flatonia followed by Funeral Mass starting at 11:00 am with Father Eddie Winkler officiating. Burial will follow at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Flatonia.
Words of comfort can be sent to the family at www.smithfuneralhomemoulton.com
Smith Funeral Home-404 West Bobkat Drive-Moulton, Texas 77975-Phone#-361-596-4631
